This situation is paradoxical, as Europe is experiencing one of the worst economic crises in its history, with falling employment and living standards and rising worries about the future. One should have expected the right-wing to be punished in countries where they govern. But that threat did not materialize. The latest returns, indeed, show quite the opposite – in France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, and even Germany, where the CDU had won a large number of representatives in the 2004 elections. Where the right is in opposition, such as in Spain and Portugal, it has improved its position. ...

If one looks only at the end result, the headlines are generally correct. Last weekend’s elections for seats in the EU Parliament indicate power in that body is now concentrated to the right of center. But things are never that simple when 27 countries are involved in creating a super-state entity while -- simultaneously -- being embroiled in their own national political dramas.For a start, who exactly is moving anything in any direction when only 43.09 percent of all eligible voters go to the polls? 10 out of the 27 EU nations recorded higher turnouts, with Belgium and Luxembourg on ...

Another low turn-out for European elections went some way to confirming the British public's scepticism.But one advocate came to Canary Wharf this week to make the case for a Europe that could make a difference to people's lives.European Commissioner Danuta Hubner told businesses that a £9.5billion investment in Britain's economy was the sort of policy that would change people's minds.Appearing at Thomson Reuters on Tuesday, she said: "I hope the election results are more related to the crisis and the uncertainties connected with the global challenges around us. Europe is a solution - ...

New report highlights wide-ranging impact of EU drug markets on societyThe 2016 EU Drug Markets Report, published today by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol, estimates that Europeans spend at least €24 billion on illicit drugs each year, making it one of the main profit-generating activities for organised criminals in Europe.